Filled container steaming apparatus



June 9, 1942 H. L. MINAKER FILLED CONTANER STEAMING APPARATUS FiledMarch l5, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l \I IIIIIIIIII IIII' r W m Wm Filedmaroh15, 1941 H L MINAKER FILLED CONTAINER STEAMING APPARATUS www NM@ W wwwQW June 9, 1942 4 Sheets-Shet 4 S U T A R A WH. AM RGB um Amm NTh msm maL.N M .um `CF m. L L I F L 4 9 1 9, e ,m J

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OOOOOOOOOOO Patented June 9, 1942I UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICErmLEn'ooNrArNEsrgMmc APPARATUS nerim L. M

Continental ker, Syracuse, N. Y., assigner to *Y an Company,

Inc., New York.

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 15, 1941, serial No.383,641

11 claims. (onzas-s2) The invention relates generally to containerlosing apparatus and primarily seeks to provide, :l combination withhigh speed closing apparatus, .ovel means for displacing air from thehead paces above products in filled containers and eplacing the samewith steam immediately prior a the closing of the containers. thereby tonot i nly eliminate air from .the sealed head spaces nd by this meansbetter preserve contained prodcts, but also to seal steam in saidcontainers i that upon subsequent coolingl of the containrs andcondensation of the steam a vacuum will e provided in thecontainers'etfective to addionally assure preservation of said products.

An object of the invention is to provide in pparatus of the'characterstated, means for co'n-I nuously moving filled containers yto theclosing oparatus and while they are being closed, means r subjecting thelled containers -to steam treatent during a considerable length oftravel lereof toward the closing apparatus to render le containers andproducts. hot and sterile and i fill container head spaces with steam,means r causing covers 'to travel in centered relation 'er the steamtreated containers, and means r directing jets of steam into the headspaces the steam treated containers to expel thereom any air yetremaining therein and replace e same with steam immediately prior tfinal.`

semblyrof the containers and covers whereby ld lair replacing steam willbe sealed in the ntainers subsequently to condense and create a cuum. YY Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thecharacter stated in which e rst mentioned steam treating means'comises atunnel of considerable length through lich the containers are movedrapidly and conluously andwhich has a steam chamber in e top thereof anddefined at its lower limit by perforated plate through which the steamsses downwardly into and around the travelr containers. X Another objectof the-inventionfisto provide apparatus of the character stated, inwhich e steam tunnel and the steam jetting 'equip- With the above andother objects in view that will hereinafter` appear, the nature of the'invention will be more fully understood by following the detaileddescription, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated inthe accompanying drawings..

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vention.

Figure 42 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the line 2-2on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary' vertical cross section taken on the line 3 3on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation illustrating the invention, the tunnelbeing .partially lifted about its pivotal mounting in dot and dashlines.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical llongitudinal section taken on theline 5-5 on Figure 1.

Figure 6 is vertical cross the liner S-ii/'on Figure 5. Y

In the example of embodiment of the invention herein illustrated,thereis shown a portion of a container closing machine in which isincluded a turret 5 equipped with the usual equidistantlyy spacedcontainer supporting pads 6 upon which the lled containers laresupported while the end closures or Vcovers are being amxed thereto.During the aiiixing of the/end closures,

the pads 6 are lifted by pad lifting means generally designated 8 so asto move the containers and the associated covers into proper cooperativerelation with the attaching means. It is preferred that the hereinillustrated linvention should be applied to a closing machine of thetype illustrated 'in the U. S. Letters Patent to Kron- V Lquest1,752,912, issued April 1,`19 30, becausein this machine the turretonwhich the containers are supported While theyare being closed moves fntcommunicate so that the containers conuousiy travel through a containerand cover continuously, and the closing of containers is effected at avery rapid rate'. that is to say, at the rate of 300 or more containersper minute. `It. will be appreciated that apparatus for displacing airfrom, and steam treating containers being moved continuously to amachine capable of operating at this speed must be exceedingly eilicientin order to meet the demands resulting from the necessity of moving thecontainers at the rate of 300 or more per minute. the present inventionto provide an apparatus which will meet these requirements.

lIn this apparatus, filled containers which are to be closed intheclosing machine and have air excluded from the head spaces above theproduct therein and replaced by steam, are fed toward the closingmachine'over av supporting plan view illustrating the iny section takenon It is the purpose of 2 f bed or bed rails 9, b'y a chain I0 havingsuitably spaced .driving lugs II thereon, or by any other suitablecontainer yfeeding equipment. The lled containers thus fed travelthroughs. steam tunnel. of considerable length and generally designatedI2.

The tunnel I2v is substantially iJ-shaped in form and includes sides I3which extend close to and preferably slightly below the upper sirn facesof thefbed rails 9, and a xtop wall portion I4. A division wall or plateI is secured in spacedrelation beneath the top wall I4 against anabutment shoulder equipment IB, and this plate forms'the lower limit ofa steam chest or chamber I1 in the top of the tunnel. This chamber or,chest I1 is supplied with from four to six pounds of steam through asupply pipe I8, and the plate I5 is provided with apertures I9 throughwhich steam from the chamber I1 isI directed downwardly into and aroundthe filled containers 1 travenng rap1d1y through the tunnel. The tun'-nel I2 is hinge-connected, as at 20, to any suitable frame piece orsupport 2I at the receiving end thereof, and has its yother or deliveryend beveled or under cut, as at 22, to oppose the meeting edge 23 of atunnel wall extension 24 which continues under the steam jetting means,soon to'be described, and around to the 'place at which the treatedcontainers with covers thereabove are fed onto the supporting pads 6 ofthe closing machine. See Figures. 1 and 4 of the drawings. The bevelingor undercutting of the tunnel end at 22 "facilitates upward swinging ofthe tunnel I2 about its pivotal support 20 in order to render accessiblethe feed hed beneath said tunnel.

It should be understood, of course, that the ape' paratus hereindisclosed can be used in comico--l tion with any continuously andrapidly operating closing machine, and when used in combination with theparticular form of closing ma chine disclosed in the patent hereinbeforereferred to, the filled containers are delivered over the bed rails 9and by the chain lugs ll into the receiving peripheralpockets 25 of afeeding turret 2S which is secured, as at 2l, upon the upper -end of aturret shaft 2t to which continuous movement is imparted, throughsuitable gearing 29, in timed relation with the movement of the`.closing machine turret 5, by suitable power applying means (notshown).

Closing machines of the type referred to usuany meiude uned containerfeeding turrets 2t,

as referred to, and also suitable coverfeeding means. In thisillustration the cover feeding means, is generally designated 39 andincludes a plurality of supporting and feeding screws Si upon which thecover units 32 rest in themanner illustrated in Figure 2 of thedrawings, and'which,

upon being rotated in suitably timed relation with the other mechanismsof the machine through driving connections generally illustrated 33,serve to deposit the cover units one by one onto a.

receiving track 34 rigidly supported beneath the cover feedingmechanismin the position illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

A supporting or frame plate 35 is any approved manner, as by studbolting 36 or vthe like, upon the closing machine frame in position foroverlying the turret 26 in the manner best illustrated in Figures 1 and3 of the drawings. 'I'he plate 35includes a recess or cutout portion 31for accommodating thepositioning Aci' the coveri feeding mechanismgenerally desig- 30. See Figure 1.

'secured .iur

A steaming member or manifold 38, generally arcuate in shape, is secured`in any approved manner beneath the frame plate 35 and is cored out orhollow, as at 39, to form a steam chamber, said chamber being arcuateand bearing concentric relation to the turret axis and being of a lengthfor extending. about a considerable portion of the circumference of saidturret in the manner illustrated` in' Figure 1. The steam chamber 39connects ythrough an inlet leg 40 with a steam supply pipe 4l. Steam is4supplied to the pipes I8 and 4I from separate sources. It will beobserved by reference to Figures l and 3 yo`l.fthe drawings that thebottom portion of the lation to the lled container receiving pocketsy 25of the turret 26 so that steam directed down'- ward1y\in jet formthrough the apertures 42 will be directed downwardly into and outwardlyacross the container head spaces closely underlying the steaming member38 in the manner illustrated in Figure` 3 of the drawings, thereby toeffectively sweep out any air remaining in said head spaces after thefilled containers have passed through the elongated tunnel structure I2hereinbefore referred to. The cover receiving track '3d is disposed atthe same level with andl delivers onto the upper surface of thesteaming.

member 38, and the steaming member serves as a support for the covers 32as 'they are being conveyed toward the closing machine in superposedrelation to and in vertical alignment with the filled containers whichthey are intended to cover in the ultimate assembly effected in theclosing machine.

At 'its under surface, the plate 35 is` equipped with an arcuateclearance or cover guideway de through which the covers are conveyed,and the ure 3.

It will be observed by reference to Figures 1`, 4 and 5 of the drawingsthat the supporting or frame plate 35 is extended, as at 46, to meet thedelivery end extremity of the tunnel I2, and it will be observed byreference to Figure 5 of the drawings that the steam space within thetunnel I2 communicates` freely with the cover guideway 43 beneath thesupporting or frame plate 35 so that the covers being conveyed throughsaid guideway will be subjected not only` to heat transfer from thesteaming member 38, but also tov direct steam contact, and delivery ofthe covlers onto the containers in a hotsterile condition is thusassured. f

The coverunits 32 are conveyed over the upper surface of the steamingmember 38 and along the guideway 43 byfpusher fingers 41, one of whichprojects from the upper surface of the turret 25 at the position of eachturret pocket 25 as indicated in Figure i of the drawings. By this meansthe covers and the filled containers are moved continuoushr in verticalalignment v exterior portions thereof tending to exclude oir from saidhead spaces-and to heat and render sterile said containers and theproduct therein. As the containers beneath the frame plate extension 46,they are received individually in the pockets 25. of the continuouslyrotating turret 26, and, as before stated, a cover 32 will be movedalong over the upper surface of the steaming member 38 in verticalalignment with each said container. The open upper portions of thefilled containersv are spaced but slightly below the steaming'member I8,and thus said head spaces may be said to be partially confined by saidsteaming member, just sufficient space being left between the upperlex'-tremities of the containers and the under surface -ofr the A,steamingmember 38 to enable an efficient sweeping out of air from said headspaces by the steam directed into said head spaces in jet form throughthe apertures 42 in the manner hereinbefore described. The tunnel `wallextension 24 tends to conne steam about the traveling containers` sothat the continuously traveling containers move in a steam atmospherewhich retains the heated and sterile condition of the containers untilthe final closing thereof is effected. If found desirable, the outerwall extension 24 may be supplemented by an inner wall 4B pass out -ofthe tunnel I2 and.

i therein.

fAs has -been previously stated, the rows of apertures 42 overlie onlythe inner half of the path of travel of the iilled containers andbecause Vof this fact, and by reason of the direction of projection ofsaid apertures, the steamis directed into and across the head spaces inthe containersand sweeps any air existing therein out through thespaceintervening the bottom surface of the steaming member 38 and the upperextremities of the containers without creating a turbulent condition inthe containers or in anywise disrupting the registered relation iof therespective overlying cover units. While the cover 'units are completelyseparated from the containers by the steaming member 38, they arenevertheless subjected to heat and direct steam treatment in the mannerhereinbefore described.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the rapidlytraveling containers trav- ,f

el through steam from the time they enter the tunnel I2 until they aredeposited on-the closing 'machine turret pads 6, or, in other Words,until just a moment before the iinal closing of` the containers iseffected.

Byreason of the contini;-

ous heat and steam treatment of the containers and covers in the mannerhereinbefore described, no opportunity is provided for cooling of partswhich might be effective to cause the steam to condense and bring abouta drawing in of air in- .to the head spaces prior to the closing of thecontainers.

By Athus assuring closing of the containers with isteam trapped therein,air is excluded from the closed containers, and upon subsequent coolingof the containers and the condensation of the `steam therein, anei'licient vacuum will -be provided in the containers Awhich willaugment the initial exclusion of the air in assuring the desiredpreservation of the food products.

steam in the container head spaces subsequentlyl 'It is of course to beunderstood that the .details of structure and arrangement of parts maybe variously-changed and, modified without deL" s an elongated tunnelleading toward said turret,

means for rapidly and continuously moving illed containers through saidtunnel, means for directing steam into and around containers movingthrough said tunnel, asecond means for receiving the filled containersfrom the tunnel and rapidly and continuously moving them onto the turretto vbe thereon immediately closed; means for directing steamintovcontainer head spaces to sweep air therefrom while the containersare being movedv by said second means, 'and means for feeding coversonto the containers immediately after the air has been swept from thehead spaces thereof and immediately prior to ultimate closing of thecontainers thereby to trap steam in the container head spacessubsequently to cool rand condense `and create a vacuum 2. In ledcontainer closing apparatus, the combination with the rapidly andcontinuously moving turret of a container closing machine, an elongatedtunnel leading toward said turret, means for rapidly and continuouslymoving lled containers through said tunnel,l means for directbeing movedby said second means, means for feeding covers onto the containersimmediately after the air has been swept from thehead spaces thereof andimmediately prior to ultimate closing of the containers thereby to trapto cool and condense and create a vacuum therein, and means forswingably mounting said tunnel so that it can be swung clear ofI saidfirst v mentioned' container moving means.

3. In -lled container vclosing apparatus, the

combination with the rapidlyand continuously moving turret of acontainer closing machine, an elongated tunnel leading toward saidtur-ret, means for rapidly andv continuously moving lled containersthrough said tunnel, meansfor'directing steam into and around containersrmoving through said tunnel, a'second means for receiving the lledcontainers from the tunnel and rapidly and continuously moving them ontothe turret to be thereon immediately closed, means for directing steaminto container head spaces tosweep air therefrom while the containersane being moved by said second means, means for feeding covers onto thecontainers immediately after the air has been swept from the head spacesthereof and immediately prior to ultimate closing of the containersthereby to trap steam in the container head spaces subsequently to cooland condense and create a .vacuum therein, and means for maintaining thecontainers in an atmosphere of steam as they are being moved by saidsecond moving means.

4. In filled container closing apparatus, the

combination with the rapidly and continuously moving turret of acontainer closing machine, an elongated tunnel leading toward saidturret, means for rapidly and continuously moving `filled. containersthrough said tunnel, means for directing steam into and aroundcontainers moving through said tunnel, a second means for receiving thefilled containers from the tunnel Nand rapidly and continuously movingthem onto the turret to be thereon immediately closed, means fordirecting steam into container head spaces to sweep air therefrom Whilethe containers'are y moving turret of a container closing machine, an

elongated tunnel leading toward said turret, means for rapidly andcontinuously moving filled containers through said tunnel, means fordirecting steam into and around containers moving through said tunnel, asecond means for receiving the filledcontainers from the' tunnel andrapidly and continuously moving them onto the turret to be thereonimmediately closed, means for directing steam into container head spacesto sweep air therefrom while the containers are being moved by saidsecond means, means for feeding covers ,onto the containers immediatelyafter the air has been swept'from the head spaces thereof andimmediately prior to ultimate' closing of the containers thereby to trapsteam in the container head spaces subsequently to cool and Y condenseand create a vaouum therein,A and being moved by said secdndmeans, meansfor' ing the filled containers from the tunnel and.

rapidly and continuously-moving them onto the turret to be thereonimmediately closed, means V4for directing steam into container'headspaces to sweep air therefrom while the containers are being moved bysaid second means, and means lfor feeding covers, onto the containersimmediately after the air has been swept from the Jrhead spaces thereofand immediately prior to ultimate closing of the containers thereby totrap steam in the container head spaces subsequently to cool andcondense and create a vacuum therein, said second mentioned steamdirecting means including a hollow plate-like body having aperrapidlyand continuously moving them 'onto the means for directing steam indirect contact with the covers priory to deposition thereof onto `the y'containers.

6. In filled container closing combination with the rapidly andcontinuously apparatus, the

moving turret of a container closing machine, an elongated tunnelleading toward said turret, means for rapidly and continuouslyfmovingfilled containers through said tunnel, means for directing steam intoand around containers moving through said tunnel, a ysecond means forreceiving the lled containers from the tunnel and rapidly andcontinuously moving them onto the turret to be thereon immediatelyclosed, means to sweep Iair therefrom While the containers are beingmoved by said second -means, means `for feeding covers onto thecontainers immediately after the air has been swept from the head spacesthereof and immediately prior to ultimate closing of the containersthereby to trapsteam in the containerhead` spaces subsequently to cooland condense and create va vacuum' therein, and means for directingsteam'from -said tunnel into direct contact with the covers prior todeposition,

Athereof onto the container.

'7.,In filled container closing apparatus, the

lcombination with the rapidly and continuously moving turret of acontainer closing machine, an elongated tunnel leading toward saidturret, means for rapidly and continuously moving filled containersthrough said tunnel,'means for directingsteam into and around containersmoving through saidtunnel, asecond means for receiv- 55: for directingsteam into container head spaces,

tures in its under surface through which the air sweeping steam isdirected into the-container'.

head spaces and which body forms a support fo the covers while they arebeing'fed.

8. In 'filled container closing apparatus, the

combination with the rapidly and continuously moving'turret of acontainer closing machine, an elongated' tunnel leading towardVA saidturret,

means forrapidly and continuously moving filled l i turret to be thereonimmediately closed, means for directing steam into container head spacesto sweep lair therefrom while the containers are being moved by saidsecond means, means for feeding covers onto\the containers immediatelyafter I the air has been; swept from t head spaces thereof andimmediately prior to Ultimate closing of the containers thereby tovtrapsteam in the container head spaces subsequentlyto cool and y 'i condenseand create a vacuum therein, said second mentioned steam directing meansincluding a hollow plate-like body having apertures in its under surfacethrough which the air sweeping f steam is directed into the cojnta'inerhead spaces and which body forms a support for the covers While they arebeing fed, and means for directing steam Afrom said tunnel over saidplate-like body thereby to subject the covers moving thereover to steamtreatment and also to heat transfer from said platellike body.

9. ln filled containerclosing apparatus, the combination withrtherapidly and continuously movingturret of a container closing machine, an.elongated tunnel leading toward said turret. means for rapidly andcontinuously moving filled containers through said tunnel, means fordirecting steam into and around containers moving through said tunnel, asecond means for receiving the filled containers from the tunnel andrapidly and continuously moving them onto the turret to be thereonimmediately closed, means for directing steam into container head`spaces to sweep ain therefrom while the containers are being moved .bysaid second means, means for feeding covers onto the containersimmediately after the air has been swept from the Yhead spaces thereofand immediately prior to ultimate closing of the containers thereby -totrap steam in the container head spaces subsequently tocool and condenseandY create a vacuum therein, said second menassassin' ject the coversmoving thereover to steam treatment and valso to heat transfer from saidplatelike body, and'means for maintaining the containers in anatmosphere of steam as they are being moved by said second moving means.

10. In iilled container closing apparatus, the

combination with the rapidly and, continuously moving turret ot acontainer closing machine, an elongated tunnel leading toward saidturret.

means for rapidly and continuously moving iilied continuously movingthem onto the turret to be combination with the rapidly and continuouslymoving turret of a, container closing machine, means forming a steamconning tunneling extending at great length directly to said turret,means for rapidly and continuously moving nlled containers through Vsaidtunneling and to said turret to be thereon immediately closed, means fordirecting steam into and around containers while traveling through aiirst major portion of the tunneling, means for directing steam intocontainer head spaces to sweep air therefrom while they are travelingthrough a second minor portion of the tunneling, means for feedingcovers onto the containers immediately after the air has been swept formthe head spaces'thereof and immediately prior to ultimate closing of'the containers therebyto trap steam in the container' head spacessubsequently to cool and condense thereon immediately closed, meansiordirecting 20 steam into container head spaces to sweep air therefrom.while the containers are being moved by said second means, and meansfor feeding covers onto the containers immediately after the air hasbeen swept from the head spaces thereof 25 and immediately prior toultimate closing of the containers thereby to trap steam in thecontainer head spaces subsequently to cool and condense and create avacuum therein.

11. In nlled container closing apparatus,r the 3 and create a vacuumtherein.` said second mentioned. steam directing means including ahollow plate-like body having apertures in its under surface throughwhich the airsweeping steam is directed into the container head spacesand which body forms a` support for the covers while they are being fed,and means f'o'r directing steam from the tunneling over said plate-likebody thereby to subject the covers nioving'thereover to, steam treatmentand also to heat transfer from said plate-like body.

